Pumpkin Jack

Last updated
Pumpkin Jack
Pumpkin Jack cover.jpg
Developer(s) Nicolas Meyssonnier
Publisher(s) Headup Games
Designer(s) Nicolas Meyssonnier
Composer(s) Yohan Jager
Engine Unreal Engine 4 [1]
Platform(s)
ReleaseOctober 23, 2020
PlayStation 4
February 24, 2021
PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S
October 27, 2021
Genre(s) Action-adventure
Mode(s) Single-player

Pumpkin Jack is a video game developed by Nicolas Meyssonnier and published by Headup Games. It was released for Windows, Nintendo Switch and Xbox One in 2020 and PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S in 2021. It combines elements of action-adventure games, 3D platform games, and hack and slash gameplay.

Contents

Gameplay

Players control a spirit revived as a pumpkin-headed man on Halloween. Together with his two companions, an owl and a crow, players guide Pumpkin Jack through various puzzles and 3D platforms to defeat humanity. Jack can engage in melee combat using various weapons, including a shovel, scythe, and magic sword. [2] [3]

Development

Nicolas Meyssonnier made Pumpkin Jack mostly by himself. Adrien Lucas helped port the game to consoles, and Yohan Jager composed the music. [4] Headup Games released the game for Windows, Xbox One, and Switch on October 23, 2020; PlayStation 4 on February 24, 2021; and PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/s on October 27, 2021. [5]

Reception

On Metacritic, Pumpkin Jack received positive reviews on the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, [6] [7] and it received mixed reviews on Windows and Nintendo Switch. [8] [9] Hardcore Gamer praised the variety of gameplay styles and said that it is fun despite some rough edges. [2] Commenting on its retro PlayStation 2-style gameplay, Push Square wrote that it is a "game that knows exactly what it wants to be, and delivers with confidence". [3] Nintendo Life called it "an absolute triumph" and compared it positively to MediEvil . [10] Though they criticized the combat, NintendoWorldReport found it "surprisingly charming" and praised the platform elements. [11]

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References

  1. "Making it in Unreal: a solo dev made a 3D platformer without a single line of code". PCGamesN . 2020-11-10. Retrieved 2023-05-30.
  2. 1 2 Peeples, Jeremy (2020-10-23). "Review: Pumpkin Jack". Hardcore Gamer. Retrieved 2023-05-30.
  3. 1 2 Ramsey, Robert (2021-10-29). "Mini Review: Pumpkin Jack: New-Gen Edition (PS5) - Halloween Platformer Is Four Hours of PS2 Era Fun". Push Square . Retrieved 2023-05-30.
  4. "Pumpkin Jack date sa sortie sur PS4". Jeuxvideo.com (in French). 2021-02-13. Retrieved 2023-05-30.
  5. "Pumpkin Jack". Gematsu. 28 September 2021. Retrieved 2023-05-30.
  6. "Pumpkin Jack (PS4)". Metacritic . Retrieved 2023-05-30.
  7. "Pumpkin Jack (PS5)". Metacritic . Retrieved 2023-05-30.
  8. "Pumpkin Jack (PC)". Metacritic . Retrieved 2023-05-30.
  9. "Pumpkin Jack (NS)". Metacritic . Retrieved 2023-05-30.
  10. Reynolds, Ollie (2020-10-23). "Pumpkin Jack Review". Nintendo Life . Retrieved 2023-05-30.
  11. Rairdin, John (2020-10-23). "Pumpkin Jack (Switch) Review". NintendoWorldReport. Retrieved 2023-05-30.